Tag: Melbourne Polytechnic

Rob Wood has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly NMIT).

………………………………………………………………………………………….……

Mr Wood comes to this role from his previous position of Acting Deputy Secretary, Higher Education and Skills Group, in the Victorian government.

Mr Wood joined the Victorian Department of Education and Training in August 2014 as the Executive Director, TAFE and Tertiary Education Support and Oversight Division, leading support to and oversight of Victoria’s TAFEs and university relationships.

He had to come to Australia with substantial experience in public administration in Canada.

Mr Wood was the Acting Deputy Secretary, Higher Education and Skills Group during a critical time of transition to the new Government. He has led the Group’s rapid response to the Government’s ambitious suite of election commitments, including establishment of the TAFE Rescue Fund, Back to Work Fund and the Review of Quality Assurance in Victoria’s VET System.

Apprentice loans program takes off

Almost 6,000 people have taken up loans under the federal government’s Trade Support Loans program since it commenced in August, according to Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane.

“The reality is that these loans offer young people who enter a certain skill area or apprenticeship up to $20,000 interest-free, the Minister told parliament last week.

The Trade Support Loans program replaced the Tools For Your Trade program which provided a series of cash payments over the course of an apprenticeship totalling up to $5500.

Not all vocational training providers are stacking up – The Conversation

Ahead of the gazettal of new VET Standards for Providers, The Conversation has detailed further concerns about the quality of training provided by some private colleges.

In The Conversation article, RMIT lecturer John Montague discusses his recent research which shows continuing problems with the quality of training, particularly in aged care and child care.

“As part of my research into staffing in aged care, a manager in a regional care facility told me there were numerous private training organisations that he would not use – in particular, one that provides a Certificate III qualification in personal care after a total of just 13 hours of training,” he says.

“Many training courses delivered by private providers may well be of a high quality, but too many are reported as not delivering accredited courses to the quality standard industry needs”.

Queensland offers $6000 apprentice incentive

Queensland employers will be able to receive up to $6,000 for each new apprentice they take on, under a new program to encourage skills development

The Minister for Education, Training and Employment, John-Paul Langbroek, said the 36 million Queensland Apprenticeship Pledge was aimed at delivering on the election promise to create 10,000 new apprenticeships by 2018.

“Under the Queensland Apprenticeship Pledge we’ve set a target of 6,000 new apprentices taken on this financial year over and above normal recruitment and retention practices,” the Minister said.

The incentive will paid in two stages – $4,000 in October 2015 and $2,000 in October 2016. The incentive will apply to eligible apprenticeships commenced from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

Group training conference to probe VET reforms

TDA will be part of a panel discussion looking at policy and political changes in vocational education at the Group Training national conference in Hobart, November 12-14.

TDA CEO Martin Riordan will appear with Andrew Lalor, General Manager, Skills Funding and Apprenticeship Policy with the Department of Industry and journalist, John Ross from The Australian, in a session hosted by MC, Ellen Fanning.

Other speakers include:

Bob Baldwin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

Sharon Bird, Shadow Minister for Vocational Education

Dr John Edwards, Reserve Bank Board

Rod Camm, ACPET

Professor Rod McDonald, Ithaca Group

Jeremy Donovan, CEO, Generation One

Peter Canavan, National Manager, Apprenticeship Project, AiGroup

Kevin Sheedy, Founder, Sheedy Vision

The conference will also feature a welcome reception at Government House and a celebration of high achieving apprentices and trainees at the national awards gala dinner.

International education to be streamlined

A review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework has suggested reforms to reduce the red tape burden on education institutions and a streamlining of domestic and international standards.

A Discussion Paper released last week follows consultations with stakeholders between March and May on ways to improve and deregulate the ESOS framework.

The Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, said the reform measures outlined in the discussion paper would deliver substantial benefits to education institutions, including a significant reduction in the compliance and reporting burden.

Inaugural Bert Evans Apprentice scholarships awarded in NSW

The NSW government has announced 101 recipients of the inaugural Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships.

The Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, said that 40 first year recipients will receive $5,000 each year for three years, while second and third year apprentices will receive $5,000 for each year of study remaining.

The scholarships target students with disability, Aboriginal apprentices and women in non-traditional trades and are named in honour of the NSW Apprenticeships Ambassador, Bert Evans AO, who spent a lifetime supporting vocational education and training and apprentices in NSW.

Information on the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships and Country Apprentice Scholarships is available from State Training Services Regional Centres on 13 28 11 and at www.training.nsw.gov.au

People who experience disadvantage face many challenges, not the least of which is finding suitable clothes to wear to an interview and during the early period of their employment. The Working Wardrobe, an initiative being launched by Melbourne Poly techic’s Work Education Centre is a not for profit clothing store selling clothes suitable for a variety of workplace situations, with money raised being used to outfit disadvantaged students for the workplace. Staff in the Work Education Centre will be able to give advice to people in understanding what type of clothing is suitable for work.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……

Start-up costs were funded via a business development grant from the Inner North Community Foundation, supported by Portland House. Rosanna Matovinovic, a teacher at the Work Education Centre, explains that:

Understanding and being able to present yourself appropriately for work seems like a really simple thing, but in fact it’s quite difficult for some people for a whole range of reasons. We aim to help our students take that first step with the confidence that they look completely appropriate for their working environment.

Setting up The Working Wardrobe has involved a whole range of students from the Work Education Centre, including Rachael Wright, the multimedia student who designed the work vest logo, to the trade students who did the shopfitting and the retail students who set up and will run the store. In time, it will also involve the WEC’s budgeting students to help manage the finances as part of project based learning that is hands on for these learners.

“We hope that with the community’s support, we will become self-sustaining and be able to eventually extend the service to disadvantaged people beyond NMIT, in the local community,” said Ms Matovinovic.

Anyone who would like to donate new or good quality clothing suitable for the workplace can get in touch with the NMIT Work Education Centre on 03 9269 8390.

The financially troubled Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, which lost almost $32 million in 2013, has received a $19 million grant from the state government and rebranded itself Melbourne Polytechnic. It is the last of the big Victorian TAFEs to ditch the TAFE brand, with most of the TAFEs now styled as “institutes” and the four Victorian dual sector universities having exited the the state TAFE system in January.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……

Interim CEO Ron Gauci says the name change is a strategy to reach out to Europe and Asia, rather than a rejection of the TAFE title. While the federal government’s planned deregulation of higher education would largely level the playing field in degree-level education, the institute’s name change would be beneficial.

Those in academic circles appreciate exactly where dual-sector institutes are heading now under the banner of polytechnic, and how appealing and globally acceptable the term is in Asia and Europe.

And he says the now Melbourne Polytechnic had already turned the corner before the government grant from the $200m TAFE Structural Adjustment Fund.

He acknowledged that NMIT had been “on the brink” early this year, but had enjoyed “significant” success since then. He said the institute was turning a profit by August after implementing new reporting systems, transforming its executive and making other staffing changes.

“It’s an important day for the institution, not only as a name change. It allows us to move forward with hope, knowing that investment is supporting the infrastructural changes that need to take place. We now have the investment required to fulfil that potential we have as a 100 year-old institute.”

He said the money would be used to improve the institute’s online delivery and improve business processes.

He said NMIT’s woes had been sparked not by Victoria’s switch to an open training market, so much as NMIT’s tardy reaction. “When contestability came into the marketplace, we fell behind other institutes in taking the necessary steps to become competitive.”

Skills Minister Nick Wakeling cited NMIT as an example of the competition facing TAFEs since they were exposed to private sector competition from 2009. “(It) went from being the principle provider of training in its catchment area to having 187 competitors,” he said.

What does it take to make it in a creative industry?.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

This is the question being answered by a series of special guest speakers at Melbourne Polytechnic’s ‘Talking Heads’ industry discussion program. Each weekly talk provides insight from seasoned and successful professionals who have made their mark in the creative arts industry.

The guest speakers include:

Janice Chalmers – Gentleman’s Cutter for the Australian Ballet

Mike Lewis – Head of Broadcast Operations at Network 10

Colleen Hewett – Renowned singer and actor

Guy Gowan – 30+ years as a professional photographer

Open to students and the public, these talks allow these accomplished creative professionals to share their personal journeys and give valuable advice on being successful in a creative field.

Janice Chalmers, Gentleman’s Cutter for the Australian Ballet, recently shared the experience she has gained during her career in theatrical costume making. Working for clients across the performing arts, such as Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, musical theatre (Rocky Horror Picture Show), and opera, Janice has been responsible for making costumes for characters of all shapes and sizes.

Janice loves working with great designers on unusual costumes, using beautiful fabrics and keeping traditions alive. Theatrical costumes are custom-made and need to be fitted to individuals, and many of the skills, such as making corsets and understanding the structures of period costumes, are very specialised.

“One of the lovely aspects of my job is collaborating with other people in the creative process. I’m constantly learning new things,” she says.

Her advice for anyone interested in entering the field of theatrical costuming is to stay curious – “Constantly explore the world, large and small. Practice and develop your own ideas, keep adding to your skills, and work with lots of different people. ”

There are eleven Talking Heads sessions in total, all free, and no booking is required. ‘Talking Heads’ runs until 8 October 2014.

For the full list of speakers, go to the Talking Heads page on the Melbourne Polytechnic website.

NMIT has appointed the former CEO of National Rugby League Club, the Melbourne Storm, as its “interim” CEO.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

John Gibbins, Chair of The Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE Board announced today that Ron Gauci has been appointed as the Institute’s Interim CEO.

Gauci is described as “a highly respected executive who demonstrates extensive experience in leading change in a number of different business environments.”

He obviously specialises in difficult business environments.

Most recently, Gauci was the CEO and Managing Director of NRL club, Melbourne Storm. When appointed at the Storm, he was set the objective of repairing the club’s brand at a very difficult time (after it had been stripped of 2 premierships for cheating on its salary cap).

At one stage, he was also rumoured to be in the running to take the reins at AFL club Essendon, which has been beset over the past year by a scandal over the alleged use of prohibited performance enhancing drugs.

Gauci commenced his career as a secondary teacher and his wife and daughter are teachers.

“Ron will bring a fresh set of eyes to the issues we are facing,” said NMIT Board Chair, John Gibbins.

Victorian TAFE North Melbourne Institute of Technology has confirmed it suffered a “significant” loss last year but says it remains in a “sound” financial position. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Victorian TAFE North Melbourne Institute of Technology has confirmed it suffered a “significant” loss last year but says it remains in a “sound” financial position with $280 million in assets and no debt.

Last week NMIT surprised the sector with news that chief executive Andy Giddy had suddenly resigned to take up an unspecified academic posting elsewhere. The news came amid speculation NMIT had suffered significant financial losses last year following earlier government cuts to TAFE funding.

But a NMIT spokesman has told The Australian: “NMIT is not in financial strife. Our current position is sound and we will announce our financial position in due course.”

Although we had a significant loss in 2013, we have zero debt and ended the year with $280m of assets including $17m cash in the bank.

From the circumstances of Andy Giddy’s departure and the tone of this statement, something is obviously seriously amiss at NMIT. Speculation is that NMIT has gone from a relatively comfortable surplus in 2012 (about $6 million) to a burgeoning deficit in 2013. NMIT budgeted for a deficit of $13 million for 2013, but, in the event, it may have been more than double that. This is speculation: we have no independent, verifiable information concerning NMIT’s current financial position.

Nevertheless, it is starting to seem something like that may be the case. NMIT has a pretty strong balance sheet and ought to be able to absorb this shock result, perhaps with some short term financial support from the Victorian government.

But the question is why and how did it come as a shock?

In April 2013 the Victorian government sacked the then board of NMIT and replaced it with its own appointees on the basis that its appointed board would have greater “commercial acumen”.

NTEU national assistant secretary Matt McGowan put it to The Scan:

You’d have to ask why the government appointed board, knowing the financial position, would let the Institute sign up to the Prahran campus lease with uncertain student numbers.

The answer would seem to be the board didn’t actually know the financial situation, which seems a significant failure in corporate governance. This is particularly so given that the board signed off on the Melbourne Polytechnic initiative – an initiative which The Scan has strongly supported – after the conduct of “due diligence” processes. Apparently, these processes did not consider NMIT’s own capacity to sustain the initiative.

We hope it can and that the board doesn’t panic (although we appreciate why it might – “fiduciary responsibility” etc).

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Dr Andrew Giddy, CEO of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, has stepped down by mutual agreement with the Board to take up a senior academic post elsewhere.

Announcing the departure, Chairman of the Board of the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, John Gibbins said, “Dr Andy Giddy has stepped down as the CEO of NMIT. We are grateful for the input of Dr Giddy to NMIT over the past two years in the role of CEO and the exceptional academic skills he brought to the organisation.”

“Dr Giddy’s departure provides NMIT the opportunity to review operations of the Institute and to determine our next steps. We will put a temporary CEO in place while recruiting the right person to take on the permanent role of CEO.”

Dr Giddy took up the position as CEO in 2012. Dr Giddy has been on the NMIT board since 2006, and has qualifications in business from the London Business School, bioethics from the University of Technology, Sydney, and veterinary science from the University of Melbourne.

Mr Gibbins and the board of NMIT will soon announce the temporary CEO as it embarks on a recruitment process to fill the ongoing position.

Losses claimed, as NMIT CEO walks

Victoria’s Labor opposition says the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE has suffered significant financial losses, amid fallout from the news of chief executive Andy Giddy’s sudden resignation. Dr Giddy’s departure and the suggestions of financial losses cast doubt over NMIT’s strategy to transform itself into a polytechnic by delivering university courses in partnership with La Trobe University. They also raise doubts over whether NMIT will be able to realise its ambition to buy Swinburne University’s Prahran campus, which it has taken over this year under a lease deal.

Like this:

Just weeks after the launch of NMIT’s joint venture Melbourne Polytechnic at the former Prahran campus of Swinburne, NMIT CEO Andrew (Andy) Giddy has suddenly resigned. There’s speculation that NMIT is in a parlous financial situation due to the polytechnic project and declining enrolments.

SEE

NMIT statement on departure of CEO Andy Giddy

Dr Andrew Giddy, CEO of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, has stepped down by mutual agreement with the Board to take up a senior academic post elsewhere.

Situated on the site of the former Swinburne University Prahran campus, Melbourne Polytechnic is a new educational brand operated by parent Institute, Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT).

The Melbourne Polytechnic currently has around 80 programs on offer ranging from vocational certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas and a growing selection of higher education programs. Students can choose from courses in design, visual arts, theatre arts, music performance, digital media, writing and editing, and photography plus studies in business, hospitality, beauty, community studies, and more.

Melbourne Poly will enrol about 600 students in 2014 and is planned to grow to about 2000 students.

Melbourne Poly has also committed to a partnership with La Trobe University which will see La Trobe University programs delivered as part of the new institution. The first of these programs, The Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology, will be delivered at NMIT Epping campus although it is likely that La Trobe programs will also be delivered through Melbourne Polytechnic’s Prahran campus into the future. This partnership is seen as central to the future success of the new Polytechnic.

The establishment of Melbourne Polytechnic at Prahran opens up significant opportunities for the communities of central and south east Melbourne. We’re very excited to be continuing the educational heritage of the Prahran site and look forward to delivering high quality and affordable vocational and higher education to the region.

Victorian higher education minister Peter Hall described the new institution as an example of an “innovative and responsive approach to education that meets the needs of the community and industry.”

La Trobe university vice-chancellor John Dewar called for a revision of Australia’s Higher Education Threshold Standards to allow formal recognition of university-type institutions with an orientation to teaching rather than research – institutions which are common throughout the rest of the world.

With a reputed going price of up to $40 million, the Prahran campus has initially been leased from Swinburne for a five year period while financing options for purchase are explored.

One option is sub-leasing part of the site to an international hotel school.

Giddy has flagged NMIT asset “rationalisations” noting that it is in the process of seeking buyers for its Greensborough campus. He said expressions of interest in Greensborough could go out within the next few months.

Labor’s higher education and skills spokesman Steve Herbert said this would be “indefensible” and that NMIT would be duty bound to invest any proceeds from Greensborough in the north. He claimed NMIT would effectively be taking money out of the north to “bail out” the Napthine government from a political problem in Prahran, a government-held seat.

RELATED

_________________________________________________________

NMIT & La Trobe create polytechnic

13 August 2013 | Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) and La Trobe University have announced they are joining together to create Melbourne Polytechnic. La Trobe and NMIT plan to commence the partnership with a suite of agriculturally oriented degrees to build on La Trobe’s and NMIT’s strengths in these areas. Courses under the partnership will be conferred as accredited La Trobe University degrees and will attract the Commonwealth subsidy (“Commonwealth Supported Places” – CSPs). …..[ READ MORE ]….

UC joins with TAFEs to create poly network

31 May 2013 | A new network of tertiary institutions is seeking to harness the best of vocational and higher education.The Australian Polytechnic Network (APN) is being founded by the University of Canberra, Melbourne’s Holmesglen Institute, Northern Sydney Institute, South Western Sydney Institute and Brisbane’s Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE.….[ READ MORE ]….